Portable fracture bed



May 18, 1926.

M. LANGWORTHY PORTABLE FRACTURE BED Filed April '11 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

May 18 1926.

M. LANGWORTHY PORTABLE FRACTUR E BED Filed April 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iiwm.m

(WOW, V

Patented May 18, 1926.

' LSMQZM PATENT @FFIQE.

MITCHELL LANGl/VORTHY, OF $POKANE, WASHINGTON.

PORTABLE FRACTURE BED.

Application filed April 11, 1925. Serial No. 22,338.

My present invention relates to improvements in portable fracture beds designed for surgical use, as in hospitals, and especially adapted. for cases where it is desirable and necessary that patient shall be prevented from undue movement while recovering from an operation on a fractured bone.

By the utilization of my invention as embodied in the fracture bed and of its accesseries. the patient may receive the necessary attention with respect to toilet, baths and comfort. The bed is adjustable to permit the patient to assume various positions, as sitting up or reclining, and certain accessories may be combined withthe bed to permit necessary exercise of the fractured limb, as the femur of the leg, while the. fracture is knitting. In the best surgical practice it is necessary, especially with fractures of the leg that the fractured limb after having been set shall be maintained in an immovable position during the process of knitting. And at times the patient must be removed as from the surgery to the X-ray room for observation. For these and other purposes I provide a portable surgical appliance or bed adapted to rest upon'a cot and adapted for use as a stretcher frame or stretcher. Means are provided for elevating the bed from the cot preparatory to moving the bed as a stretcher from the cot, and means are provided for adjusting the back portion of the bed or stretcher frame. The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physi cal embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with the best mode 1 have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fracture bed according to my invention illustrated in a position elevated with relation to the cot upon which it is adapted to rest, and adapted to be used as a portable stretcher for the patient.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation with some parts in section showing the support for the adjustable back-portion of the bed together with a crane device for supporting accessories of the bed.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the hoisting or elevating device for the bed.

- Figure l is a detail perspective view of a detachable supporting bracket for the crane accessories.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view partly 1n section at line 55 of Figure 1 showing a part of the elevating device one of which is located at each end of the fracture bed.

Figure 6 is a detail transverse sectional view at line 66 of Figure 2 showing a part of the crane.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the traction or exercising device used as an-accessory of the bed.

Figure 8 is a detail view at line 88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a detail view at line 9-9 of Figure 9..

Figure 10 is a detail View of the supporting strap and adjusting buckle.

The fracture bed which is convertible for use as a stretcher is made up of a main frame of rectangular shape comprising longitudinal side bars 1 and 2, which as shown in Figure 5 have telescoping parts so that their length may be varied and secured in adjusted position by means of set screwsl in said figure of'the drawing. Attheir ends these longitudinal side bars are joined by transverse end bars 3 and tthat are spaced apart in sections from the longitudinal centers of the end bars and connected with the side bars by corner fixtures 5 and retaining pins 6.

Each sectional end bar is hollow and within each sectional end bar a hoisting or elevating shaft as 7 is encased adapted to be turned as by a detachable crank handle 8 on one end of the shaft. p

This rectangular main frame or stretcher frame is suspended so that it may be eleated or lowered with relation to the cot upon which it is designed to rest, and as a support for the suspended frame I utilize two transversely extending, hollow bars 9 and 10. il ithin these end supporting bars are extensible rods 11 and 12, slidable with relation to the hollow bars 9 and 10 to adapt the fracture bed to different widths of cots.

Each supporting bar has an upright, inverted U-shaped frame as Band 14; rigid therewith and provided with transverse .openings or holds 15 and retaining pins 16. .Twoelevating devices are employed, one

at each end of the fracture bed, and each comprises a housing 17 that rigidly eonnects the spaced sections of the end bars 3 and 4-, leaving the central portiorrof the hoisting shafts exposed. Each housing is fashioned with a pair of upright slide'sleeves as 18. slidable on the arms of the inverted U- shaped tram-res 13 and .adapteditobesup- POI'LQd in adjusted position by the several pins 16 inserted in the desired perforations or holes of the U-shaped frames.

.13 or use inelevatin-gthe bed I employ hoist cables or cordsQOuhich are anchored to the central. exposed portions ofthe shafts 7- as indicated in Figure 3 where'a longitudinal-groove 21 in the shaft rcceivesa'portion of the cable and its two ends-arepassed through transverse openings 22 in the shaft. Tlretwo en'dsot each cable-are anchored-to the transverse arm ofthe'U-shaped frame by means of a clamp block 23 and a clamp nutand bolt Q-l. Thus it will be apparent that either or both ends of the main frame may be elevated byturningthe shafts 'T-to wind the cable thereon to lift the main frame or bed to the desired elevation above the cot, either for removal of-the stretcher or bed from the cot or for other desired purposes.

For the convenience and comfort of the patientthe bed is provided with an adjustable back-portion in the "form ofa' U-shape'd frame 25, the ends of which are pivoted at 26 to upright sleeves 27 (Figurefllof the collars 2S fixed on theopposite sidebars 1 and Rising from these fixtures or collars 28 area pair of rigid posts 29 seated in sockets of the upright sleeves 27 and forming supports for two chains 30. One endof each chain is anchored as zit-31 to the'tr'ansverse arm of the back-portion and the-chains pass over pulleys 3 suspended as by-hooks at the tops of the posts. By pulling on the free ends of thesechainsthe'pat-ient or nurse may elevate the free end of thebackportion of the stretcherframeyand a guide sleeve 3% and retaining bolt 3- 1 on each post may be utilized to hold. the back-portionin adjusted position as't'orreclining as inFigure 1.

At suitable intervals along the main frame and back-portion are suspended transversely extendingsupporting straps 35 for the patientand these straps have detachable suspending devices and adjusting buckles (Fig.10) as 36 whereby the straps may with facility be removed or adjusted as desired.

Incombination with the fracture bed or convertible stretcher. I utilize accessories as traction cit-exercising devices for the use (it the patient. and splints for the fracture. whereby the best possible conditions may be insured for a speedy and successful knitting ot the bone as indicated in Figure 1.

For this purpose I employ an upright post 37 adapted to be used on either of the side bars ot'the main frame and seated at its lower endin a boss 38 and secured therein by a pin 39 passing through registering holes in these members. As best seen in Figure d the boss is integral with a jaw ll) :having a. complementary hinged jaw -11 that is adapted to be trictionally engaged or clamped on :the side bar as 1. A clamp screw 42 is used to clamp the tree portion of the .jaws on the side bar and a turning bar ltl' torrthe screw or bolt is used in customary manner for this purpose by insertion in the bolt hole 142 of the screw bolt. \Yhen not in-use this turning bar may be housed by the spring keeper 44 secured to. the clamp jaw 41.

I In the: post 37' a crane device is supported. flhecrane includes a horizontal arm -14 with an angular, reduced end if) telescoping in the post and aretaini-ng pin 16 is passrd through registering holes in the reduced end and post endito hold the crane rigid with relation to its supportingpost.

The craneineludes additional sections to permit vertical. anddiorizontal adjustment of itsparts and a vertical tubular extension el-Trises fromthc horizontal arm ll tor the reception of a telescopic and adjustable rod 4.8. both of which are provided with registering holes for the reception of aretaining pinell). The rod may be adjusted vertically or rotated horizontally to adjusted position tor-varying the position of the upper part ofthe crane device, and in all positionswill be held by the retaining pin it).

at horizontal suspending arm is mounted at thetop of the crane and provided witlra perpendicular reduced head 51 to seat inthe'top-end of the vertical tubular "58011011 41 of the crane and a retaining pm (Figure 6) is passed through registering holes 5250f these concentrically arranged members. In Figure 6 it will he seen that th reduced head of the suspendingarm is provided with an annular series of openings in order that the head may lurotated ina horizontal plane to desired position and. the pin used to lock it to the see tron 47.

At the "free end of the suspending arm all is carried a pulley 53 for suspenrhng an accessory as for instance a splint device and exercising apparatus for .the patient as shown in Figure 1.

In connectionwith the crane I employ a transversely extending bracket arm or supof a horizontalU-bolt 55 to the vertical section 17and=two triction blocks ;or clamp blocks 56 and 57 are carried by the bolt at one side of the bracket arm. The ends of the U-bolt are joined by a cross head 58 and an angular clamp screw or bolt 59 is used to securely attach the bracket arm to the vertical section of the crane.

This bracket bar is provided with an angular arm 60 located near one end and a pulley 61 is suspended from the free end of the arm, it being apparent that the bracket bar may be adjusted in its clamp device and U-bolt laterally of the frame or fracture bed. In Figure l the splint device and exercising apparatus are shown as supported from the bracket arm and crane re spectively. A counterweight 62 is connected at the end of a suspending chain 63 which passes over the pulley 5'3 of the crane, and this chain suspends the exercising or traction apparatus indicated as 64:. Another suspending chain 65 passes over the pulley 61 and suspends the splint device or apparatus 66, of which a knee yoke 67 is indicated in Figure 7 From the above description taken in connection with my drawings it will be apparent that the appliance as a whole is composed of Various detachable and adjustable parts compactly arranged and combined and readily accessible for various purposes. These features provide an apparatus or appliance requiring a minimum amount of labor, and insure convenience and facility on the part of the patient or attendant in the performance of the required services, to assure comfort and best possible conditions for the benefit of the patient and practice of the surgeon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination in a convertible stretcher-bed with a main frame, of a pair of supporting bars and supporting frames rigid therewith adjustable extensions on the ends of said bars, suspending cables anchored to said supporting frames above the main frame, winding devices on the main frame for said cables, and means for operating the said winding devices to vertically adjust the main frame.

2. The combination in a convertible stretcher-bed with a main frame having end bars and operating shafts carried thereby, of stationary supports, slidable guide devices on the stationary supports rigid withsaid end bars, suspending cables anchored to said supports and operatively connected to said shafts, and means co-acting with said slidable guide devices for retaining the main frame in vertically adjusted position.

3. The combination in convertible stretcher-bed with a main frame having a hollow sectional end bar and an enclosed operating shaft joining the sectional bar, of a stationary support, a suspending cable anchored to said support and operatively connected to said shaft between the spaced portions of the sectional bar, and means for retaining the main frame in adjusted position with relation to the support.

4. The combination with an adjustable frame of a stationary supporting frame having perforations therein, a suspending cable anchored to said supporting frame, a shaft forming part of the main frame and operatively connected with said cable, and detachable pins for co-action with the main frame and perforated supporting frame for retaining the main frame in adjusted position.

5. The combination with a main frame in= eluding spaced hollow end sections and an enclosed operating shaft in said sections, of a housing rigidly connecting said sections, a suspending cable, an inverted U-shaped supporting frame to which said cable is anchored, operative connections between said cable and shaft, guide sleeves rigid with the housing for engagement with said U- shaped frame, and means for retaining said main frame in adjusted position.

6. The combination in a convertible stretcher-bed with a main frame having end bars and operating shafts carried thereby, of stationary supports including perfor-' ated posts, slidable sleeves on said posts rigid with said end bars, removable pins for coaction with said perforated posts for supporting said sleeves, and suspending cables anchored to said supports and operatively connected to said shafts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

MITCHELL LANGWORTHY. 

